Transferring operating environment of registered network to unregistered network

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is related to providing an operation environment of a registered network having first devices to a user in an unregistered network having second devices. In order to provide, the second devices in the unregistered network may be detected when user equipment associated with the user enters a service area of the unregistered network. As compatible devices, devices compatible with the first devices in the registered network may be selected from the detected second devices. Then, system images of the first devices compatible with the selected compatible devices may be obtained. The obtained system images of the first devices may be installed at the selected compatible devices, respectively.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2013-0109839 (filed on Sep. 12, 2013), whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The subject matter of this application is related to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/191,756 filed Feb. 27, 2014, as Attorney DocketNo.: (801.0107), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/172,118 filed Feb.4, 2014, as Attorney Docket No.: (801.0112), and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. xx/xxx,xxx filed Jan. 29, 2014, as Attorney Docket No.:(801.0140), the teachings of which are incorporated herein theirentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a home network service and, moreparticularly, to providing the same operating environment of aregistered home network to a user in an unregistered home network.

A home network has been introduced. The home network couples a pluralityof electronic devices (e.g., computer, television, refrigerator, andaudio system) and controls them in response to a user input.Particularly, when a user is in a service area of a registered homenetwork, the home network may enable a user to control smart devices inthe registered home network with minimum interaction to the smartdevices. Through such home network, the user might perform repeateddaily tasks conveniently. However, such a home network service cannot beprovided to the user when the user visits a unregistered home networkalthough the unregistered home network includes smart devices similar tothose in the registered home network.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that is further described below in the DetailedDescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantagesand other disadvantages not described above. Also, the present inventionis not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and anembodiment of the present invention may not overcome any of the problemsdescribed above.

In accordance with an aspect of the present embodiment, a user may beenabled to transfer operation environment of a registered home networkto an unregistered home network when the user visits the unregisteredhome network.

In accordance with another aspect of the present embodiment, a user maybe enabled to control smart devices in an unregistered home network whenthe user visits the unregistered home network.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a method may be provided forproviding an operation environment of a registered network having firstdevices to a user in an unregistered network having second devices. Themethod may include detecting the second devices in the unregisterednetwork when user equipment associated with the user enters a servicearea of the unregistered network, selecting devices compatible with thefirst devices in the registered network from the detected second devicesas compatible devices, obtaining system images of the first devicescompatible with the selected compatible devices, and installing theobtained system images of the first devices at the selected compatibledevices, respectively.

The detecting may include receiving second device information on thesecond devices in the registered network and extracting a list of thesecond devices, user identification information associated with the userequipment, network identification information associated with theregistered network.

The selecting devices may include identifying the registered networkbased on user identification information associated with the userequipment, obtaining first device information of the registered networkbased on the identified registered network, and selecting the compatibledevices from the second devices based on the obtained first deviceinformation of the registered network and second device informationreceived from the user equipment.

The obtaining system images may include transmitting an inquiry messageto the user equipment for requesting the user to choose a type ofproviding the operation environment of the registered network, receivinga response message from the user equipment in response to the inquirymessage, and performing a procedure of installing a system image whenthe response message indicates system image installation as the type ofthe providing the operation environment.

The installing the obtained system images of the first devices mayinclude transmitting an installation instruction message with theobtained system images of the first devices to a gateway of theunregistered network. The gateway of the unregistered network identifiesthe compatible devices in the unregistered network based on identifiersof the compatible devices in the installation instruction message andtransmits an installation message and a corresponding system image to arespective one of the identified compatible devices.

After the installing the obtained system images, the method may furtherinclude generating a user interface for enabling the user to control atleast one of the compatible devices and transmitting the generated userinterface the user equipment, wherein the user equipment provides theuser interface, receives a user input to control the at least one of thecompatible devices through the user interface, and controls the at leastone of the compatible devices installed with the system image and in theunregistered device based on the received user input by generating acontrol signal based on the user input and transmitting the generatedcontrol signal to the at least one of the compatible devices.

After the installing the obtained system images, the method may furtherinclude receiving a restoration message from the user equipment andtransmitting a deletion instruction message to a gateway of theunregistered network, wherein the gateway of the unregistered networkidentifies second devices installed with the system images of the firstdevices in the registered network based on information included in thedeletion instruction message and controls the identified second devicesto restore an original operation environment by deleting the installedsystem image.

Prior to the detecting the second devices, the method may furtherinclude receiving device information on devices in a correspondingnetwork from a gateway of the corresponding network upon generation of apredetermined event, wherein the device information includes hardwareinformation, operation information, and a system mage of each device inthe corresponding network. The gateway may be configured to search fordevices supporting an associated network service in the correspondingnetwork, to collect the hardware information of the searched devicesthrough communication with the searched devices, to obtain the operationinformation of the searched devices through communication with thesearched devices, to generate system images of the searched devicesbased on the collected hardware information and the obtained operationinformation, to generate the device information of the searched devicesby including the hardware information, the operation information, andthe generated system images of the searched devices, and to transmit thegenerated device information with network identification information ofthe corresponding network to a service server.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a method may be provided forproviding, by a service server, an operation environment of a first homenetwork having first smart devices to a user visiting a second homenetwork having second smart devices. The method may include detectingthe second smart devices in the second home network when user equipmentassociated with the user enters a service area of the second homenetwork, selecting smart devices compatible with the first smart devicesin the first home network from the detected second smart devices ascompatible smart devices, generating a management interface for managingthe selected compatible smart devices in the second home network, andtransmitting the generated management interface to the user equipment.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a method may be provided forproviding, by a service server, an operation environment of a first homenetwork having first smart devices to a user visiting a second homenetwork having second smart devices. The method may include detectingthe second smart devices in the second home network when user equipmentassociated with the user enters a service area of the second homenetwork, selecting smart devices compatible with the first smart devicesin the first home network from the detected second smart devices ascompatible smart devices, and providing a virtual machine for managingthe selected compatible smart devices in the second home network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, ofwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a home network system in accordance with at least oneembodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a service server in accordance with at least oneembodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for finding devices supporting a homenetwork service and included in a home network in accordance with atleast one embodiment;

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate providing an operating environment of aregistered home network to a user in an unregistered home networkthrough installation of a system image in accordance with at least oneembodiment;

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate providing an operating environment of aregistered home network to a user in an unregistered home networkthrough a management interface in accordance with at least oneembodiment; and

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B illustrate providing an operating environment of aregistered home network to a user in an unregistered home networkthrough a virtual machine in accordance with at least one embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below, in order to explain thepresent invention by referring to the figures.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a user may be enabled to useand/or to control at least one device in an unregistered home networkwith the same operating environment of the registered home network whenthe user visits the unregistered home network. Such operation may beprovided through a home network service in accordance with at least oneembodiment. The home network service may be provided through at leastone of system image installation, a managing interface, and a virtualmachine. Hereinafter, overall operation of such a home network servicewill be described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates a home network system in accordance with at least oneembodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, a home network system may include firsthome network 100, second home network 300, service server 200, and userequipment 400. A home network may be referred to as a home area network.Such a home network may be a type of a local area network that developsfrom the need to facilitate communication and interoperability amongdigital devices present inside or within the close vicinity of a home.Devices capable of participating in the home network may be referred toas a smart device. Such smart devices may increase the quality of lifeinside the home in a variety of ways, such as automation of repetitioustasks, increased personal productivity, enhanced home security, andeasier access to entertainment.

For example, first and second home networks 100 and 300 may communicatewith service server 200 through communication network 500. Communicationnetwork 500 may be a mobile communication network or a wide area wiredcommunication network, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Each one of first and second home networks 100 and 300 may include aplurality of smart devices 110A to 110C and 310A to 310C and gateways120 and 320. A smart device may be an electronic device connected to acorresponding gateway through a home network and a service serverthrough a communication network and perform a designated operation inresponse to a predetermined event with minimum interaction with a user.For example, the smart device may include various home appliances havinga circuit capable of communication with a gateway and a service serverand perform the designated operation in response to a user input. Thesmart device may include a light, a refrigerator, a television set (TV),a computer, a network printer, a door entry system, an audio system, andso forth.

A gateway (e.g., gateways 120 and 320 in FIG. 1) may be coupled to smartdevices in a corresponding home network. Such a gateway may i) controlsmart devices, ii) relay signals between smart devices and acommunication network (e.g., communication network 500), iii) perform afirewall function, and iv) perform a user authentication function. Forexample, gateway 120 may receive a control signal from user equipment400 and control associated smart devices 110A to 110C in first homenetwork 100 based on the received control signal.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, gateway 120 searches forsmart devices supporting a smart home service in first home network 100,obtain hardware information, such as a serial number, a model name, anda manufacturer, from the searched smart devices, and transmit theobtained device information to service server 200.

Gateway 120 and 320 may generate a system image of each smart devicesupporting the smart home service and transmit the generated systemimage of each smart device to service server 200. The system image maydenote an exact copy of a driving software structure for controlling acorresponding smart device and for performing a designated operationthrough a corresponding smart device in response to a user input, upondetection of a predetermined condition, and/or upon generation of apredetermined event. The system image may include the operationinformation including information on an operating system, a license ofthe operating system, device and operation settings, programs, and filesof a respective smart device.

Gateway 120 and 320 may receive a request for installing a system imagefrom one of service server 200 and user equipment 400. In response tothe request, gateway 120 and 320 may transmit the corresponding systemimage to a designated device and control the designated device toinstall the system image.

User equipment 400 may access one of gateways 120 and 320 of first andsecond home networks 100 and 300 and control smart devices in thecorresponding home network. In particular, when user equipment 400visits an unregistered home network, user equipment 400 searches forsmart devices in the unregistered home network and transmits a list ofthe searched smart devices to service server 200. Then, user equipment400 requests service server 200 to select controllable smart devicesfrom the searched smart devices, which are compatible with smart devicesin a registered home network associated with user equipment 400.

User equipment 400 may receive one of a management interface and avirtual machine from service server 200 to control the compatible smartdevices in the unregistered home network. Upon the receipt of themanagement interface, user equipment 400 may display a graphic userinterface that enables a user to control the compatible smart devices inthe unregistered home network. That is, user equipment 400 may receive amanagement interface including at least one system image of acorresponding smart device in a registered home network from serviceserver 200 and request service server 200 to selectively install the atleast one system image in a compatible smart device in the unregisteredhome network.

Upon the receipt of the virtual machine, user equipment 400 may installthe received virtual machine. Through the installed virtual machine,user equipment 400 may control at least one smart device in theunregistered home network. The virtual machine may be a software programenabling a user to control an operating environment of the unregisteredhome network when the user visits the unregistered home network. Such avirtual machine may include a user interface and a system image forcontrolling a compatible smart device in the unregistered home network.When user equipment 400 is installed with the virtual machine, at leastone of an independent platform, an operating system, and an applicationis installed in user equipment 400 for controlling an operatingenvironment of the unregistered home network. User equipment 400 mayinclude a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a WCDMA terminal, a LTEterminal, and a smart phone.

Service server 200 may be a computing system for supporting a homenetwork service in accordance with at least one embodiment. Inparticular, when a user visits an unregistered home network (e.g.,second home network 300), service server 200 determines whether anysmart devices in the unregistered home network are operable by the userand sets an operating environment of the unregistered home network basedon the determination result. Hereinafter, such service server 200 willbe described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates a service server in accordance with at least oneembodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, service server 200 may includecommunication circuit 210 including receiver 211 and transmitter 212,processor 220, and memory 230.

Communication circuit 210 may receive information, data, and/or signalsfrom and transmit information, data, and/or signal to other entitiesincluding gateways 120 and 320, user equipment 400, and smart devices110A to 110C and 310A to 310C.

Memory 230 may store various information, for example, an operatingsystem for controlling constituent elements, a designated applicationfor providing a home network service, and information necessary forproviding a home network service. In accordance with at least oneembodiment, memory 230 may store user identification informationregistered at each home network 100 and 300. That is, memory 230 maystore at least one of user identification information mapped to each oneof home network identification information. The user identificationinformation may include at least one of home network serviceidentification of a user and device identification information ofassociated user equipment 400. Memory 230 may also store hardwareinformation and operation information of smart devices, mapped tocorresponding home network identification information. Furthermore,memory 230 may store a system image of each smart device in a registeredhome network. Memory 230 may store a list of compatible smart devices ina predetermined home network. That is, memory 230 may store informationon smart devices compatible with a smart device in a registered homenetwork.

Processor 220 may control associated constituent elements and otherentities coupled through communication network 500. Particularly,processor 220 may perform operations for providing an operatingenvironment of a registered home network to a user in an unregisteredhome network so as to enable the user to use or to control smart devicesin the unregistered home network with the same operation conditions inthe registered home network in accordance with at least one embodiment.

For example, processor 220 may perform operations for obtaining hardwareinformation, operation information, and a system image of each smartdevice from smart device information upon the receipt of the smartdevice information from a corresponding gateway (e.g., gateway 120 or320). Such obtained information may be stored in memory 230.

Processor 220 may perform operations for finding controllable smartdevices in a home network (e.g., registered home network or unregisteredhome network). In particular, processor 220 may perform operation forfinding devices supporting (e.g., participating in) a home networkservice in an unregistered home network. Such finding procedure can beperformed through communication with each smart device or based oninformation stored in memory 230. Furthermore, based on a compatibledevice list stored in memory 230, compatible smart devices in theunregistered home network may be determined.

Processor 220 may perform an operation for determining a type ofproviding an operating environment of a registered home network. Inparticular, processor 220 may provide a user interface to user equipment400 that enables a user to choose one of i) providing a virtual machine,ii) installing a system image, and iii) providing a managementinterface.

Processor 220 may perform an operation for transmitting a system imageto a gateway of an unregistered home network or for providing amanagement interface to user equipment 400 for controlling installationof a system image when the user visits the unregistered home network.That is, when the system image installation is selected as the providingtype, processor 220 may perform operations for extracting a system imageof a smart device in a registered home network, which is correspondingto a compatible smart device in an unregister home network, transmittingthe extracted system image to a gateway of the unregistered homenetwork, and controlling the compatible smart device to install theextracted system image.

When the management interface is decided as the providing type,processor 220 may perform operations for generating a managementinterface for managing an operating environment of each compatible smartdevice in the unregistered home network and providing the generatedmanagement interface to user equipment 400.

When the virtual machine is decided as the providing type, processor 220may perform operations for generating a virtual machine for controllinga compatible smart device in an unregistered home network and providingthe generated virtual machine to user equipment 400. In particular,processor 220 may perform operations for extracting, from memory 230, asystem image of a corresponding smart device in a registered homenetwork, which is compatible to a target smart device to control in theunregistered home network, generating a virtual machine including theextracted system mage and a user interface for controlling the targetsmart device in the unregistered home network, and transmitting thegenerated virtual machine to user equipment 400.

Processor 220 may perform operations for restoring an original operatingenvironment of smart devices in an unregistered home network, afterinstalling a system image in the smart devices in the unregistered homenetwork. That is, when a restoration message is received from userequipment 400, processor 220 may perform operations for transmitting adeletion message to a gateway of the unregistered home network. Inresponse to the deletion message, an operating environment of acompatible smart device in the unregistered home network is restored toan original operating environment.

As described, service server 200 may provide an operation environment ofa smart device in a registered home network to a user in an unregisteredhome network in accordance with at least one embodiment. Such operationwill be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for finding devices supporting a homenetwork service and included in a home network in accordance with atleast one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, devices supporting a home network service may besearched at step S3010. A device interacting with a service server and agateway to perform a designated task (e.g., supporting a home networkservice) is referred to as a smart device. A gateway of a home networkmay search for such smart devices distributed in a corresponding homenetwork at a regular interval or upon generation of a predeterminedevent. The predetermined event may include receiving a request messagefrom service server 200 and/or user equipment 400.

In case of first home network 100 in FIG. 1, gateway 120 searches smartdevices 110A, 110B, and 110C distributed in home network 100 at apredetermined interval. For convenience and ease of understanding, firsthome network 100 will be described as an exemplary home network, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto. Operations described withreference to FIG. 3 are performed similar in second home network 300.

At step S3030, hardware information on the searched smart devices may becollected. For example, first gateway 120 communicates with the searchedsmart devices, such as door entry system 110A, TV 110B, and light 110C,and obtains hardware information of each one of the searched smartdevices. The hardware information may include a serial number, a modelname, a manufacturer, and so forth.

At step S3050, operation information of each searched smart device maybe obtained. For example, first gateway 120 obtains, as operationinformation, information on an operating system, a license thereof,device and operation settings, programs, and files of each one of thesearched smart devices through communication with respective smartdevices.

The device and operation settings information may include information onparameters of controlling constituent elements and parameters ofperforming predetermined operations in response to a user input, upondetection of a predetermined condition, and/or upon generation of apredetermined event. Such the device and operation settings may be setby a user to control a predetermined smart device and to perform adesignated operation through a predetermined smart device. For example,the device and operation settings may include information on values setby an associated user, such as a temperature value, a TV volume value,and a light brightness value. The programs and the files may denoteprograms and files necessary to control a smart device and/or to performa designated operation through a respective smart device. Furthermore,device and operation setting information may include servicesubscription information of an associated user, such as cable TVsubscription information and video on demand (VOD) service subscriptioninformation.

At step S3070, a system image may be generated based on the obtainedinformation. For example, first gateway 120 obtains hardware informationand operation information of each one of the searched smart devices infirst home network 100 as described. Based on the obtained information,first gateway 120 may generate a system image of each one of thesearched smart devices. The system image may denote an exact copy of adriving software structure for controlling a corresponding smart deviceand for performing a designated operation through a corresponding smartdevice in response to a user input, upon detection of a predeterminedcondition, and/or upon generation of a predetermined event. The systemimage may include the operation information including information on anoperating system, a license of the operating system, device andoperation settings, programs, and files of a respective smart device.Accordingly, a user may be enabled to user and/or to control a device ina unregistered home network with the same customized settings of theuser if the device in the unregistered home network is installed with asystem image generated based on hardware information and operationinformation of a similar device (e.g., compatible device) in aregistered home network.

That is, first gateway 120 generates a system image of each one of thesearched smart devices in first home network 100, such as door entrysystem 110A, TV 110B, and light 110C, to include the obtainedinformation, such as an operating system, a license thereof, device andoperation settings, programs, and files.

The system image of each smart device was described as being created byfirst gateway 120, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Forexample, such a system image of a smart device may be generated byservice server 200 after collecting hardware information and operationinformation of the smart device.

At step S3090, smart device information may be transmitted to a serviceserver. For example, as the smart device information of first homenetwork 100, first gateway 120 transmits the hardware information, theoperation information, and the created system image of each one of thesearched smart device to service server 200. Furthermore, first gateway120 also transmits network identification information of first homenetwork 100 to service server 200.

At step S3110, smart device information may be received. For example,receiver 211 of service server 200 receives the smart device informationof first home network 100 from first gateway 120 with the networkidentification information of first home network 100. As described, thesmart device information of first home network 100 includes hardwareinformation, operation information, and a system image of each one ofsmart devices in first home network 100.

At step S3130, hardware information, operation information, and a systemimage of each smart device may be extracted from the received smartdevice information. For example, processor 220 of service server 200extracts the hardware information, the operation information, and thesystem image of each smart device in first home network 100 from thereceived smart device information of first home network 100.Furthermore, processor 220 extracts the network identificationinformation from the smart device information.

At step S31350, the extracted information may be stored in connectionwith corresponding network identification information. For example,processor 220 maps the extracted network identification with theextracted information (e.g., hardware information, operationinformation, and a system image) of each smart device in first homenetwork 100. Then, processor 220 stores the extracted information (e.g.,hardware information, operation information, and a system image) of eachsmart device in memory 230 with the mapping relation with the networkidentification of first home network 100.

As described, first gateway 120 of first home network 100 obtainsinformation of each smart device in corresponding first home network 100and provides the smart device information to service server 200. Secondgateway 320 of second home network 300 performs the same operation forproviding smart device information of second home network 300 to serviceserver 200. Accordingly, service server 200 may store smart deviceinformation of home networks managed under the control of service server200.

For example, when a user registers first home network 100 as aregistered home network for a home network service, first gateway 120performs operations in FIG. 3 to collect smart device information offirst home network 100 and to provide the collected smart deviceinformation to service server 200. When this user visits an unregisteredhome network (e.g., second home network 300), service server 200 mayenable the user to use and/or to control compatible smart devices insecond home network 300 with the same operation conditions of first homenetwork 100 by providing an operating environment of a registered homenetwork to the user in an unregistered home network. Particularly, anoperating environment of the registered home network may be providedthrough one of a system image, a management interface, and a virtualmachine in accordance with at least one embodiment. Such operation willbe described in detail with reference to FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG.5B, FIG. 6A, and FIG. 6B. For convenience and ease of understanding, auser is assumed to register first home network 100 as a registered homenetwork and to visit second home network 300 for describing theoperation in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 6A, and FIG. 6B,but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate providing an operating environment of aregistered home network to a user in an unregistered home networkthrough installation of a system image in accordance with at least oneembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, hardware information of smart devicesin an unregistered home network may be obtained at step S4010. Forexample, when a user registered at first home network 100 visits anunregistered home network (e.g., second home network 300), associateduser equipment 400 obtains hardware information of smart devices insecond home network 300. The hardware information may include a serialnumber, a model name, a manufacturer, and so forth.

In particular, user equipment 400 searches for smart devices in secondhome network 300. As shown in FIG. 1, second home network 300 includesthree smart devices, light 310A, TV 310B, and audio system 310C.Accordingly, user equipment 400 finds three smart devices, light 310A,TV 310B, and audio system 310C in second home networker 300, as asearching result. User equipment 400 obtains hardware information ofsmart devices 310A to 310C through a short distance radio communicationwith smart devices 310A to 310C. Alternatively, user equipment 400 mayrequest second gateway 320 to provide hardware information of smartdevices 310A to 310C in second home network 300. In response to therequest, user equipment 400 may receive the requested hardwareinformation of smart devices 310A to 310C in second home network 300from second gateway 320.

At step S4030, a smart device list of the unregistered home network maybe transmitted. For example, user equipment 400 transmits a list ofsmart devices 310A to 310C in the unregistered home network (e.g.,second home network 300) to service server 200. Furthermore, userequipment 400 also transmits user identification information (e.g., userequipment 400 or an associated user) and network identificationinformation of the unregistered home network (e.g., second home network30) to service server 200. For example, the user identificationinformation may include at least one of a home network serviceidentifier (ID), an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), anda mobile communication telephone number.

At step S4050, a registered home network may be identified. For example,receiver 211 of service server 200 receives user identificationinformation from user equipment 400 and processor 220 of service server200 identifies a registered home network (e.g., first home network 100)based on the received user identification information. That is, serviceserver 200 determines that a registered home network associated withuser equipment 400 is first home network 100 by comparing the receiveduser identification information with information stored in memory 230.

At step S4070, smart device information of the registered home networkmay be obtained. For example, processor 220 of service server 200obtains smart device information of the registered home network (e.g.,first home network 100) from database in memory 230. Such smart deviceinformation may be collected and stored regularly, as described withreference to FIG. 3.

At step S4090, determination may be made so as whether any compatiblesmart devices in the unregistered home network. For example, processor220 of service server 200 determines whether any smart devices in theunregistered home network are compatible with smart devices in theregistered home network (e.g., between first and second home networks100 and 300). The compatible smart device in an unregistered homenetwork may denote a smart device in the unregistered home network,which is similar to or identical to that in a registered home network soas to be controlled with an operating environment (e.g., system image)of a corresponding smart device in the registered home network. Thecompatible smart device may be referred to as a controllable smartdevice.

In order to determine, service server 200 may compare hardwareinformation of smart devices in the unregistered home network (e.g.,second home network 300) with hardware information of smart devices inthe registered home network (e.g., first home network). Alternatively,processor 220 of service server 200 may obtain a compatible device listof the unregistered home network, which is previously created and storedin memory 230.

In particular, processor 220 of service server 200 may classify smartdevices by a type and compares smart devices in the same type. Forexample, processor 220 of service server 200 may determine whether TV110B in first home network 100 is compatible with TV 310B in second homenetwork 300. Furthermore, processor 220 of service server 200 maydetermine whether light 110C in first home network 100 is compatiblewith light 310A in second home network 300.

In order to obtain smart device information of smart devices in secondhome network 300, service server 200 may receive network identificationinformation of second home network 300 from user equipment 400 and fetchhardware information of smart devices mapped with the networkidentification information stored in memory 230.

In this case, user equipment 400 obtains second home networkidentification information from second home network 300 and transmit theobtained second home network identification information to serviceserver 200. Service server 200 fetches hardware information of the smartdevices in the second home network based on the second home networkidentification information. Service server 200 fetches hardwareinformation of smart devices in first home network 100 based on the useridentification information. Then, service server 200 detects comparablesmart devices in second home network 300 based on the fetched hardwareinformation and the comparable device list in memory 230.

When no smart device is compatible (No—S4090), an inform message may betransmitted at step S4110. For example, service server 200 may transmit,to user equipment 400, the inform message for noticing an associateduser that there is no device is controllable in the unregistered homenetwork. Accordingly, the associated user is aware of no devicecontrollable in the unregistered home network (e.g., second home network300) and manually controls devices in the visiting home network.

When at least one compatible smart device is found in the unregisteredhome network (Yes—S4090), a compatible smart device list may begenerated and transmitted at step S4130. For example, processor 220 ofservice server 200 generates a compatible smart device list includinginformation on controllable smart devices in the unregistered homenetwork and transmits the generated compatible smart device list to theuser equipment 400. Based on such a compatible smart device list, anassociated user can be aware of controllable smart devices in theunregistered home network.

At step S4150, an inquiry message may be transmitted for determining atype of providing a registered operation environment to an unregisteredhome network. For example, processor 220 of service server 200 transmitsan inquiry message to user equipment 400 for inquiring an associateduser of a type of providing an operation environment of the registeredhome network (e.g., first home network 100) to the unregistered homenetwork (e.g., second home network 300). In particular, processor 220 ofservice server 200 may transmit signals of a graphic user interface forenabling an associated user to choose one of a system image, amanagement interface, and a virtual machine.

At step S4170, a response message with a decided type of providing aregistered operation environment may be transmitted. For example, userequipment 400 receives the inquiry message from service server 200 anddisplays the message (e.g., a graphic user interface) through a displaythereof to an associated user. User equipment may receive a user inputwith the installation of a system image as a decided type of providingthe operation environment. User equipment 400 generates the responsemessage with a request of the installation of the system image andtransmits the generated response message to service server 200.

At step S4190, a procedure of installing a system image may be initiatedin response to the response message. For example, service server 200receives the response message from user equipment 400 and initiates theprocedure of installing a system image based on information included inthe response message.

At step S4210, smart devices in the registered home networkcorresponding to the compatible smart devices in the unregistered homenetwork may be selected. For example, processor 220 of service server200 determines smart devices in the registered home networkcorresponding to the compatible smart devices in the registered homenetwork based on the determination result of step S4090 and the smartdevice information of the registered home network.

At step S4230, system images of the selected smart devices may beobtained. For example, processor 220 of service server 200 obtainssystem images of the selected smart devices from the smart deviceinformation of the registered home network (e.g., first home network100) stored in memory 230.

At step S4250, an installation instruction message may be transmittedwith the obtained system image. For example, processor 220 of serviceserver 200 transmits an installation instruction message to secondgateway 320 with the compatible smart device list and the obtainedsystem images. That is, the installation instruction message may includeinformation on identifiers of the compatible smart devices in theunregistered home network and the obtained system images thereof.

The installation instruction message was described as being transmittedto a gateway of the unregistered home network, but the present inventionis not limited thereto. For example, such installation message may betransmitted to each one of the compatible smart devices in theunregistered home network with the obtained system image. Furthermore,the gateway (e.g., second gateway 320) of the unregistered home networkmay be an object to install a system image of a gateway (e.g., firstgateway 120) of the registered home network. In this case, serviceserver 200 may transmit an installation instruction message to thegateway of the unregistered home network with the system image of firstgateway 120. In response to the installation instruction message, thegateway of the unregistered home network installs the system imageincluded in the installation instruction message. Then, service server200 may transmit installation instruction messages with the obtainedsystem images for the compatible smart devices in the unregistered homenetwork.

At step S4270, a user interface may be generated and transmitted. Forexample, processor 220 of service server 200 may generate a userinterface for enabling a user to control compatible devices in theunregistered home network (e.g., second home network 300) and transmitthe generated user interface to user equipment 400.

At step S4290, target smart devices may be determined and system imagesthereof may be obtained from the installation instruction message. Forexample, second gateway 320 of the unregistered home network receivesthe installation instruction message from service server 200. Secondgateway 320 analyzes the received installation instruction message,determines target smart devices to install a system image, and obtainscorresponding system images from the received installation instructionmessage.

At step S4310, the installation instruction message with the obtainedsystem image may be transmitted. For example, second gateway 320transmits the installation instruction message with a correspondingsystem image to each one of the determined target smart devices in theunregistered home network.

At step S4330, the installation instruction message may be received andthe system image may be installed. For example, the compatible smartdevices receive the installation instruction message from second gateway320 and install corresponding system images for performing a designatedoperation based on the user setups.

After the completion of the system image installation, the compatiblesmart devices in the unregistered home network have the same operatingenvironment of the registered home network. Accordingly, the associateduser is enabled to use and/or to control the compatible smart devices inthe unregistered home network with the same operation conditions of theregistered home network in accordance with at least one embodiment.

At step S4350, a control signal may be transmitted. For example, userequipment 400 transmits a control signal to a desired compatible smartdevice in the unregistered home network through second gateway 320.

At step S4370, a designated operation may be performed based on thecontrol signal. For example, the desired compatible smart device mayreceive the control signal from user equipment 400 through secondgateway 320 and performs a designated operation based on the controlsignal.

At step S4390, a restoration message may be transmitted upon generationof a predetermined event. For example, when user equipment 400 exitsfrom a service area of the unregistered home network (e.g., second homenetwork 300) or when user equipment 400 receives a message forinterrupting to use compatible devices in the unregistered home network(e.g., second home network 300), user equipment 400 transmits arestoration message to service server 200.

At step S4410, a deletion instruction message may be transmitted. Forexample, service server 200 receives the restoration message from userequipment 400 and transmits a deletion instruction message to secondgateway 200 in response to the restoration message. The deletioninstruction message may include information on device identifiers of thecompatible smart devices installed with corresponding system images.

At steps S4430, smart devices installed with the system images may beidentified. For example, second gateway 320 receives the deletioninstruction from service server 200 and identifies smart devicesinstalled with the system images based on the device identifiersincluded in the deletion instruction message.

At step S4450, a deletion instruction message may be transmitted. Forexample, second gateway 320 transmits the deletion instruction messageto the identified smart devices.

At step S4470, the installed system image may be deleted and an originaloperation environment may be restored. For example, the identified smartdevices receive the deletion instruction message from second gateway320. In response to the deletion instruction message, each one of theidentified smart devices restores the original operation environment bydeleting the installed system image.

An operation environment of a registered home network may be providedthrough a management interface in accordance with at least oneembodiment. Such operation will be described with reference to FIG. 5Aand FIG. 5B.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate providing an operating environment of aregistered home network to a user in an unregistered home networkthrough a management interface in accordance with at least oneembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, hardware information of smart devicesin an unregistered home network may be obtained at step S5010. Forexample, when a user registered at first home network 100 visits anunregistered home network (e.g., second home network 300), associateduser equipment 400 obtains hardware information of smart devices insecond home network 300. The hardware information may include a serialnumber, a model name, a manufacturer, and so forth.

At step S5030, a smart device list of the unregistered home network maybe transmitted. For example, user equipment 400 transmits a list ofsmart devices 310A to 310C in the unregistered home network (e.g.,second home network 300) to service server 200. Furthermore, userequipment 400 also transmits user identification information (e.g., userequipment 400 or an associated user) and network identificationinformation of the unregistered home network (e.g., second home network30) to service server 200.

At step S5050, a registered home network may be identified. For example,receiver 211 of service server 200 receives user identificationinformation from user equipment 400 and processor 220 of service server200 identifies a registered home network (e.g., first home network 100)based on the received user identification information.

At step S5070, smart device information of the registered home networkmay be obtained. For example, processor 220 of service server 200obtains smart device information of the registered home network (e.g.,first home network 100) from database in memory 230.

At step S5090, determination may be made so as whether any compatiblesmart devices in the unregistered home network. For example, processor220 of service server 200 determines whether any smart devices in theunregistered home network are compatible with smart devices in theregistered home network (e.g., between first and second home networks100 and 300). In order to determine, service server 200 may comparehardware information of smart devices in the unregistered home network(e.g., second home network 300) with hardware information of smartdevices in the registered home network (e.g., first home network).Alternatively, processor 220 of service server 200 may obtain acompatible device list of the unregistered home network, which ispreviously created and stored in memory 230.

When no smart device is compatible (No—S5090), an inform message may betransmitted at step S5110. For example, service server 200 may transmit,to user equipment 400, the inform message for noticing an associateduser that there is no device is controllable in the unregistered homenetwork. Accordingly, the associated user is aware of no devicecontrollable in the unregistered home network (e.g., second home network300) and manually controls devices in the visiting home network.

When at least one compatible smart device is found in the unregisteredhome network (Yes—S5090), a compatible smart device list may begenerated and transmitted at step S5130. For example, processor 220 ofservice server 200 generates a compatible smart device list includinginformation on controllable smart devices in the unregistered homenetwork and transmits the generated compatible smart device list to theuser equipment 400. Based on such a compatible smart device list, anassociated user can be aware of controllable smart devices in theunregistered home network.

At step S5150, an inquiry message may be transmitted for determining atype of providing a registered operation environment to an unregisteredhome network. For example, service server 200 transmits an inquirymessage to user equipment 400 for inquiring an associated user of a typeof providing an operation environment of the registered home network(e.g., first home network 100) to the unregistered home network (e.g.,second home network 300). In particular, service server 200 may transmitsignals of a graphic user interface for enabling an associated user tochoose one of a system image, a management interface, and a virtualmachine.

At step S5170, a response message with a decided type of providing aregistered operation environment may be transmitted. For example, userequipment 400 receives the inquiry message from service server 200 anddisplays the message (e.g., a graphic user interface) through a displaythereof to an associated user. User equipment may receive a user inputwith the management interface as a decided type of providing theoperation environment. User equipment 400 generates the response messagewith a request of the management interface and transmits the generatedresponse message to service server 200.

At step S5190, a procedure of providing a management interface may beinitiated in response to the response message. For example, serviceserver 200 receives the response message from user equipment 400 andinitiates the procedure of providing a management interface based oninformation included in the response message.

At step S5210, in response to the request, a management interface may begenerated. For example, processor 220 of service server 200 generates amanagement interface for controlling compatible smart devices in theunregistered home network (e.g., second home network 300) and managingan operating environment of unregistered home network 300. Serviceserver 200 includes identifiers of the compatible smart devices in theunregistered home network and a set of commands for controlling thecompatible smart devices in the management interface.

At step S5220, the generated management interface may be transmitted.For example, processor 220 of service server 200 transmits the generatedmanagement interface to user equipment 400.

At step S5230, the management interface may be provided to an associateduser and an instruction may be received through the managementinterface. For example, user equipment 400 displays the managementinterface on a display of user equipment 400. Through managementinterface, user equipment 400 may receive requests of using at least onedesignated smart device among the compatible smart devices and commandsto control a predetermined smart device from the associated user.

At step S5250, a device control message may be generated andtransmitted. For example, upon the receipt of the requests and/or thecommands thereof, user equipment 400 obtains identification informationof at least one designated smart device and control parameters forcontrolling the at least one designated smart device based on thereceived commands, generates the device control message to include theobtained identification information and the control parameters, andtransmit the device control message to service server 200.

At step S5270, a system image of at least one designated smart devicemay be obtained. For example, service server 200 receives the devicecontrol message from user equipment 400, extracts identificationinformation of the at least one designated smart device from the devicecontrol message, and fetches a system image corresponding to theidentification information from memory 230. That is, based on theidentification information included in the device control message,service server 200 identifies a compatible smart device in theunregistered home network to install a system image and extracts asystem image of a corresponding smart device in the registered homenetwork (e.g., first home network 100) from memory 230.

At step S5290, an installation instruction message with the obtainedsystem image may be transmitted. For example, service server 200transmits the obtained system image and an installation instructionmessage to second gateway 320. That is, in accordance with at least oneembodiment, service server 200 transmits an installation instructionmessage with a system image to a designated compatible smart deviceinstead of transmitting system images to all of compatible smart devicesin the unregistered home network.

At steps S5310, target smart devices may be determined and system imagesthereof may be obtained from the installation instruction message. Forexample, second gateway 320 of the unregistered home network receivesthe installation instruction message from service server 200. Secondgateway 320 analyzes the received installation instruction message,determines target smart devices to install a system image, and obtainscorresponding system images from the received installation instructionmessage.

At step S5330, the installation instruction message with the obtainedsystem image may be transmitted. For example, second gateway 320transmits the installation instruction message with a correspondingsystem image to each one of the determined target smart devices in theunregistered home network, which are designated by the user through themanagement interface.

At step S5350, the installation instruction message may be received andthe system image may be installed. For example, the at least onedesignated compatible smart device receives the installation instructionmessage from second gateway 320 and install corresponding system imagesfor performing a designated operation based on the user setups.

After installing the system image in the designated smart device in theunregistered home network, the designated compatible smart devices inthe unregistered home network have the same operating environment of theregistered home network. Accordingly, the associated user is enabled touse and/or to control the designated compatible smart devices in theunregistered home network with the same operation conditions of theregistered home network in accordance with at least one embodiment.

At step S5370, a control signal may be transmitted. For example, userequipment 400 receives, through the management interface, commands(e.g., user inputs) for controlling the at least one of designatedcompatible smart devices in the unregistered home network, generates acontrol signal based on the received commands, transmits the generatedcontrol signal to one of the designated compatible smart devices throughsecond gateway 320.

At step S5390, a designated operation may be performed based on thecontrol signal. For example, one of the designated compatible smartdevices may receive the control signal from user equipment 400 throughsecond gateway 320 and performs a designated operation based on thecontrol signal.

At step S5410, a restoration message may be transmitted upon generationof a predetermined event. For example, when user equipment 400 exitsfrom a service area of the unregistered home network (e.g., second homenetwork 300) or when user equipment 400 receives a message forinterrupting to use the designated compatible devices in theunregistered home network (e.g., second home network 300), userequipment 400 transmits a restoration message to service server 200.

At step S5430, a deletion instruction message may be transmitted. Forexample, service server 200 receives the restoration message from userequipment 400 and transmits a deletion instruction message to secondgateway 200 in response to the restoration message. The deletioninstruction message may include information on device identifiers of thedesignated compatible smart devices installed with corresponding systemimages.

At steps S5450, smart devices installed with the system images may beidentified. For example, second gateway 320 receives the deletioninstruction from service server 200 and identifies designated smartdevices installed with the system images based on the device identifiersincluded in the deletion instruction message.

At step S5470, a deletion instruction message may be transmitted. Forexample, second gateway 320 transmits the deletion instruction messageto the identified smart devices.

At step S5490, the installed system image may be deleted and an originaloperation environment may be restored. For example, the identified smartdevices receive the deletion instruction message from second gateway320. In response to the deletion instruction message, each one of theidentified smart devices restores the original operation environment bydeleting the installed system image.

An operation environment of a registered home network may be providedthrough a virtual machine in accordance with at least one embodiment.Such operation will be described with reference to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B illustrate providing an operating environment of aregistered home network to a user in an unregistered home networkthrough a virtual machine in accordance with at least one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, hardware information of smart devicesin an unregistered home network may be obtained at step S6010. Forexample, when a user registered at first home network 100 visits anunregistered home network (e.g., second home network 300), associateduser equipment 400 obtains hardware information of smart devices insecond home network 300. The hardware information may include a serialnumber, a model name, a manufacturer, and so forth.

At step S6030, a smart device list of the unregistered home network maybe transmitted. For example, user equipment 400 transmits a list ofsmart devices 310A to 310C in the unregistered home network (e.g.,second home network 300) to service server 200. Furthermore, userequipment 400 also transmits user identification information (e.g., userequipment 400 or an associated user) and network identificationinformation of the unregistered home network (e.g., second home network30) to service server 200.

At step S6050, a registered home network may be identified. For example,receiver 211 of service server 200 receives user identificationinformation from user equipment 400 and processor 220 of service server200 identifies a registered home network (e.g., first home network 100)based on the received user identification information.

At step S6070, smart device information of the registered home networkmay be obtained. For example, processor 220 of service server 200obtains smart device information of the registered home network (e.g.,first home network 100) from database in memory 230.

At step S6090, determination may be made so as whether any compatiblesmart devices in the unregistered home network. For example, processor220 of service server 200 determines whether any smart devices in theunregistered home network are compatible with smart devices in theregistered home network (e.g., between first and second home networks100 and 300). In order to determine, service server 200 may comparehardware information of smart devices in the unregistered home network(e.g., second home network 300) with hardware information of smartdevices in the registered home network (e.g., first home network).Alternatively, processor 220 of service server 200 may obtain acompatible device list of the unregistered home network, which ispreviously created and stored in memory 230.

When no smart device is compatible (No—S6090), an inform message may betransmitted at step S6110. For example, service server 200 may transmit,to user equipment 400, the inform message for noticing an associateduser that there is no device is controllable in the unregistered homenetwork. Accordingly, the associated user is aware of no devicecontrollable in the unregistered home network (e.g., second home network300) and manually controls devices in the visiting home network.

When at least one compatible smart device is found in the unregisteredhome network (Yes—S6090), a compatible smart device list may begenerated and transmitted at step S6130. For example, processor 220 ofservice server 200 generates a compatible smart device list includinginformation on controllable smart devices in the unregistered homenetwork and transmits the generated compatible smart device list to theuser equipment 400. Based on such a compatible smart device list, anassociated user can be aware of controllable smart devices in theunregistered home network.

At step S6150, an inquiry message may be transmitted for determining atype of providing a registered operation environment to an unregisteredhome network. For example, service server 200 transmits an inquirymessage to user equipment 400 for inquiring an associated user of a typeof providing an operation environment of the registered home network(e.g., first home network 100) to the unregistered home network (e.g.,second home network 300). In particular, service server 200 may transmitsignals of a graphic user interface for enabling an associated user tochoose one of a system image, a management interface, and a virtualmachine.

At step S6170, a response message with a decided type of providing aregistered operation environment may be transmitted. For example, userequipment 400 receives the inquiry message from service server 200 anddisplays the message (e.g., a graphic user interface) through a displaythereof to an associated user. User equipment may receive a user inputwith the virtual machine as a decided type of providing the operationenvironment. User equipment 400 generates the response message with arequest of the virtual machine and transmits the generated responsemessage to service server 200.

At step S6190, a procedure of providing a virtual machine may beinitiated in response to the response message. For example, serviceserver 200 receives the response message from user equipment 400 andinitiates the procedure of providing a virtual machine based oninformation included in the response message.

At step S6210, corresponding smart devices in the registered homenetwork may be selected. For example, service server 200 selects smartdevices in the registered home network, which are corresponding to thedetermined compatible smart devices in the unregistered home network.

At step S6230, system images of the selected smart devices may beobtained. For example, service server 200 fetches system images of theselected smart devices from smart device information of the registeredhome network (e.g., first home network 100) stored in memory 230 ofservice server 200.

At step S6250, a virtual machine of each one of the determinedcompatible smart devices may be generated. For example, service server200 generates a virtual machine of each one of the determined compatiblesmart devices in the unregistered home network. The virtual machine ofeach compatible smart device may include a corresponding system imageand a user interface for controlling a compatible smart device.

That is, service server 200 generates a virtual machine that includesthe obtained system images and a user interface for controlling smartdevices where the obtained system images are installed. Furthermore,service server 200 may include identification information of smartdevices to control in the user interface.

At step S6270, the generated virtual machine may be transmitted. Forexample, service server 200 transmits the generated virtual machine touser equipment 400.

At step S6290, the virtual machine may be installed at user equipment.For example, user equipment 400 receives the virtual machine fromservice server 200 and installs the virtual machine. That is, userequipment 400 stores a plurality of system images of the determinedcompatible smart devices in the unregistered home network and installs auser interface associated with the system images. The virtual machinemay be a software program that enables a user to control an operatingenvironment of the compatible smart devices in the unregistered homenetwork 300. When the virtual machine is installed in user equipment400, user equipment 400 is installed with at least one of an independentplatform, an operating system, and an application for controlling anoperation environment of target smart devices in the unregistered homenetwork.

At step S6310, a user input may be received through the user interfaceof the virtual machine. For example, user equipment 400 receives, froman associated user, requests for using or controlling at least one ofthe compatible devices through a user interface included in the virtualmachine.

At step S6330, at least one compatible smart device to control may beselected and a system image thereof may be obtained. For example, userequipment 400 selects at least one compatible smart device to controlbased on the user input received through the user interface of thevirtual machine. Then, user equipment 400 obtains system images of theselected compatible smart device from a plurality of the stored systemimages through the virtual machine.

At step S6350, a device control message may be generated andtransmitted. For example, user equipment 400 obtains deviceidentification information of the selected compatible devices, generatesa device control message including the obtained device information andthe system image thereof, and transmit the generated device controlmessage to a gateway (e.g., gateway 320) of the unregistered homenetwork (e.g., second home network 300).

At step S6370, an installation instruction message may be generated andtransmitted. For example, second gateway 320 receives the device controlmessage from user equipment 400. Based on information included in thedevice control message, second gateway 320 extracts the system imagesand the device identification information from the device controlmessage from user equipment 400. Second gateway 320 generates aninstallation instruction message based on the extracted information,transmits the installation instruction message to the designatedcompatible smart devices in the unregistered home network correspondingto the device identification information.

At step S6390, a system image may be installed. For example, thedesignated compatible smart device (e.g., smart device 310) in theunregistered home network receives the installation instruction messagefrom second gateway 320. The designated compatible smart device installsthe system image included in the installation instruction message toprovide the same operation environment of the registered home network tothe associated user in the unregistered home network.

After installing the system image in the designated smart devices in theunregistered home network, the designated compatible smart devices inthe unregistered home network have the same operating environment of theregistered home network. Accordingly, the associated user is enabled touse and/or to control the designated compatible smart devices in theunregistered home network with the same operation conditions of theregistered home network in accordance with at least one embodiment.

At step S6410, a control signal may be transmitted. For example, userequipment 400 receives commands (e.g., user inputs) from the associateduser through the user interface generated by the virtual machineinstalled in user equipment 400, generates control signals based on thereceived commands, and transmits the generated control signals to one ofthe designated compatible smart device in the unregistered home networkthrough second gateway 320.

At step S6430, a designated operation may be performed based on thecontrol signals. For example, one of the designated compatible smartdevices (e.g., smart device 310) may receive the control signals fromuser equipment 400 through second gateway 320 and performs a designatedoperation based on the control signals.

At step S6450, a restoration message may be transmitted upon generationof a predetermined event. For example, when user equipment 400 exitsfrom a service area of the unregistered home network (e.g., second homenetwork 300) or when user equipment 400 receives a message forinterrupting to use the designated compatible devices in theunregistered home network (e.g., second home network 300) through theuser interface of the virtual machine, user equipment 400 transmits arestoration message to service server 200.

At step S6470, a deletion instruction message may be transmitted. Forexample, service server 200 receives the restoration message from userequipment 400 and generates and transmits a deletion instruction messageto second gateway 200 in response to the restoration message. Thedeletion instruction message may include information on deviceidentifiers of the designated compatible smart devices installed withcorresponding system images.

At steps S6490, smart devices installed with the system images may beidentified. For example, second gateway 320 receives the deletioninstruction from service server 200 and identifies designated smartdevices installed with the system images based on the device identifiersincluded in the deletion instruction message.

At step S6510, a deletion instruction message may be transmitted. Forexample, second gateway 320 transmits the deletion instruction messageto the identified smart devices.

At step S6530, the installed system image may be deleted and an originaloperation environment may be restored. For example, the identified smartdevices receive the deletion instruction message from second gateway320. In response to the deletion instruction message, each one of theidentified smart devices restores the original operation environment bydeleting the installed system image.

At step S6550, a deletion completion message may be transmitted. Forexample, the designated smart devices in the unregistered home networkgenerates a deletion completion message after restoring the originaloperation environment and transmit the generated deletion completionmessage to user equipment 400 through second gateway 320.

At step S6570, a corresponding virtual machine may be deleted. Forexample, user equipment 400 receives a deletion completion message fromsecond gateway 320 and deletes the corresponding virtual machineinstalled in user equipment 400.

Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of theinvention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarilymutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term“implementation.”

As used in this application, the word “exemplary” is used herein to meanserving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or designdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use ofthe word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concretefashion.

Additionally, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the naturalinclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or Xemploys both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any ofthe foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as usedin this application and the appended claims should generally beconstrued to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear fromcontext to be directed to a singular form.

Moreover, the terms “system,” “component,” “module,” “interface,”,“model” or the like are generally intended to refer to acomputer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. For example, a componentmay be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program,and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application runningon a controller and the controller can be a component. One or morecomponents may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and acomponent may be localized on one computer and/or distributed betweentwo or more computers.

The present invention can be embodied in the form of methods andapparatuses for practicing those methods. The present invention can alsobe embodied in the form of program code embodied in tangible media,non-transitory media, such as magnetic recording media, opticalrecording media, solid state memory, floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, harddrives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when theprogram code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as acomputer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention.The present invention can also be embodied in the form of program code,for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/orexecuted by a machine, or transmitted over some transmission medium orcarrier, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiberoptics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the program codeis loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, themachine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. Whenimplemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code segmentscombine with the processor to provide a unique device that operatesanalogously to specific logic circuits. The present invention can alsobe embodied in the form of a bitstream or other sequence of signalvalues electrically or optically transmitted through a medium, storedmagnetic-field variations in a magnetic recording medium, etc.,generated using a method and/or an apparatus of the present invention.

It should be understood that the steps of the exemplary methods setforth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the orderdescribed, and the order of the steps of such methods should beunderstood to be merely exemplary. Likewise, additional steps may beincluded in such methods, and certain steps may be omitted or combined,in methods consistent with various embodiments of the present invention.

As used herein in reference to an element and a standard, the term“compatible” means that the element communicates with other elements ina manner wholly or partially specified by the standard, and would berecognized by other elements as sufficiently capable of communicatingwith the other elements in the manner specified by the standard. Thecompatible element does not need to operate internally in a mannerspecified by the standard.

No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recitedusing the phrase “means for” or “step for.”

Although embodiments of the present invention have been describedherein, it should be understood that the foregoing embodiments andadvantages are merely examples and are not to be construed as limitingthe present invention or the scope of the claims. Numerous othermodifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the artthat will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of thisdisclosure, and the present teaching can also be readily applied toother types of apparatuses. More particularly, various variations andmodifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements ofthe subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure,the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations andmodifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternativeuses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing an operation environment ofa registered network having first devices to a user in an unregisterednetwork having second devices, the method comprising: detecting thesecond devices in the unregistered network when user equipmentassociated with the user enters a service area of the unregisterednetwork; as compatible devices, selecting devices compatible with thefirst devices in the registered network from the detected seconddevices; obtaining system images of the first devices compatible withthe selected compatible devices; and installing the obtained systemimages of the first devices at the selected compatible devices,respectively.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:receiving second device information on the second devices in theregistered network; and extracting a list of the second devices, useridentification information associated with the user equipment, networkidentification information associated with the registered network. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting devices comprises:identifying the registered network based on user identificationinformation associated with the user equipment; obtaining first deviceinformation of the registered network based on the identified registerednetwork; and selecting the compatible devices from the second devicesbased on the obtained first device information of the registered networkand second device information received from the user equipment.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein: the first device information includeshardware information and operation information of the first devices inthe registered network; the second device information includes hardwareinformation and operation information of the second devices in theunregistered network; the hardware information includes information on aserial number, a model name, and a manufacturer of a respective device;and the operation information includes information on an operatingsystem, a license of the operating system, device and operationsettings, programs, and files of a respective device.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the obtaining system images comprises: transmitting aninquiry message to the user equipment for requesting the user to choosea type of providing the operation environment of the registered network;receiving a response message from the user equipment in response to theinquiry message; and performing a procedure of installing a system imagewhen the response message indicates system image installation as thetype of the providing the operation environment.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein the installing the obtained system images of the firstdevices comprises: transmitting an installation instruction message withthe obtained system images of the first devices to a gateway of theunregistered network, wherein the gateway of the unregistered networkidentifies the compatible devices in the unregistered network based onidentifiers of the compatible devices in the installation instructionmessage and transmits an installation message and a corresponding systemimage to a respective one of the identified compatible devices.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, after the installing the obtained system images,comprising: generating a user interface for enabling the user to controlat least one of the compatible devices; and transmitting the generateduser interface the user equipment, wherein the user equipment providesthe user interface, receives a user input to control the at least one ofthe compatible devices through the user interface, and controls the atleast one of the compatible devices installed with the system image andin the unregistered device based on the received user input bygenerating a control signal based on the user input and transmitting thegenerated control signal to the at least one of the compatible devices.8. The method of claim 1, after the installing the obtained systemimages, comprising: receiving a restoration message from the userequipment; and transmitting a deletion instruction message to a gatewayof the unregistered network, wherein the gateway of the unregisterednetwork identifies second devices installed with the system images ofthe first devices in the registered network based on informationincluded in the deletion instruction message and controls the identifiedsecond devices to restore an original operation environment by deletingthe installed system image.
 9. The method of claim 1, prior to thedetecting the second devices, comprising: receiving device informationon devices in a corresponding network from a gateway of thecorresponding network upon generation of a predetermined event, whereinthe device information includes hardware information, operationinformation, and a system information of each device in thecorresponding network.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the gateway isconfigured to: search for devices supporting an associated networkservice in the corresponding network; collecting the hardwareinformation of the searched devices through communication with thesearched devices; obtaining the operation information of the searcheddevices through communication with the searched devices; generatingsystem images of the searched devices based on the collected hardwareinformation and the obtained operation information; generating thedevice information of the searched devices by including the hardwareinformation, the operation information, and the generated system imagesof the searched devices; and transmitting the generated deviceinformation with network identification information of the correspondingnetwork to a service server.
 11. A method of providing, by a serviceserver, an operation environment of a first home network having firstsmart devices to a user visiting a second home network having secondsmart devices, the method comprising: detecting the second smart devicesin the second home network when user equipment associated with the userenters a service area of the second home network; as compatible smartdevices, selecting smart devices compatible with the first smart devicesin the first home network from the detected second smart devices;generating a management interface for managing the selected compatiblesmart devices in the second home network; and transmitting the generatedmanagement interface to the user equipment.
 12. The method of claim 11,prior to the generating a management interface, comprising: transmittingan inquiry message to the user equipment for requesting the user tochoose a type of providing the operation environment of the registerednetwork; receiving a response message from the user equipment inresponse to the inquiry message; and performing a procedure of providingthe management interface when the response message indicates themanagement interface as the type of the providing the operationenvironment.
 13. The method of claim 11, comprising: receiving a requestof using one of the selected compatible smart devices from the userequipment; identifying one of the first smart devices in the first homenetwork corresponding to the requested compatible smart device based onthe received request; obtaining a system image of the identified firstsmart device as a system image of the requested compatible smart device;and transmitting an installation instruction message with the obtainedsystem image to a second gateway of the second home network.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, comprising; by the second gateway, receiving theinstallation instruction message from the service server; by the secondgateway, determining target smart devices to install a system image andobtaining corresponding system images from the received installationinstruction message; by the second gateway, transmitting an installationinstruction message to the determined target smart devices with theobtained corresponding system images.
 15. The method of claim 13,comprising: by one of the target smart devices, receiving theinstallation instruction message from the second gateway; by the one ofthe target smart devices, extracting a system image from theinstallation instruction message; and by the one of the target smartdevice, installing the extracted system image.
 16. A method ofproviding, by a service server, an operation environment of a first homenetwork having first smart devices to a user visiting a second homenetwork having second smart devices, the method comprising: detectingthe second smart devices in the second home network when user equipmentassociated with the user enters a service area of the second homenetwork; as compatible smart devices, selecting smart devices compatiblewith the first smart devices in the first home network from the detectedsecond smart devices; and providing a virtual machine for managing theselected compatible smart devices in the second home network.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, prior to the providing a virtual machine,comprising: transmitting an inquiry message to the user equipment forrequesting the user to choose a type of providing the operationenvironment of the registered network; receiving a response message fromthe user equipment in response to the inquiry message; and performing aprocedure of providing the virtual machine when the response messageindicates the virtual machine as the type of the providing the operationenvironment.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the providing a virtualmachine comprises: selecting first smart devices corresponding to theselected compatible second smart devices from the first smart devices inthe first home network; obtaining system images of the selected firstsmart devices from smart device information of the first home network;generating the virtual machine of each one of the selected compatiblesmart devices by including the obtained system images and a userinterface for controlling the selected compatible smart devices; andtransmitting the generated virtual machine to the user equipment. 19.The method of claim 18, by the user equipment, comprising: receiving thevirtual machine from the service server; installing the received virtualmachine in the user equipment; providing the user interface forcontrolling the selected compatible smart device to the user; receivinga user input through the user interface of the installed virtualmachine; selecting at least one compatible smart device to control basedon the user input; obtaining a system image of the selected at least onecompatible smart device from a plurality of the stored system imagesthrough the virtual machine; obtaining device identification informationof the selected at least one compatible smart device; generating adevice control message including the obtained device identificationinformation and the obtained system image; and transmitting the devicecontrol message to a second gateway of the second home network.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, by the second gateway, comprising; receiving thedevice control message from the user equipment; determining target smartdevices to install a system image based on the device identificationinformation included in the device control message; and obtainingcorresponding system images from the received device control message;generating an installation instruction message for each one of thedetermined target smart devices to include a corresponding one of theobtained system images; and transmitting the generated installationinstruction messages to the determined target smart devices,respectively.